Dr Caroline Hyde

Professional Expertise:

Cell & Molecular Biologist with 13+ years’ experience in Translational Research of which 7+ years supporting and consulting on academic Clinical Trial research – field of Pharmaceutical Medicine.

Areas of research emphasis in the field of translational science have been on chronic inflammatory conditions and combining knowledge of cellular & molecular signalling pathways with insights from structural biology and medicinal chemistry to investigate and characterise novel treatment interventions, primarily in the field of tumour growth & metastasis. Practical insights from clinical and pre-clinical laboratory research associated with university teaching hospitals on squamous cell carcinomas, pancreatitis, and role of epigenetics in gynaecological tumours.
Advanced training in Tumour Biology, Clinical Neuroscience, Human Physiology, Human & Animal Ethics, and Laboratory Animal Science (anaesthesia & analgesia, animal husbandry; FELASA category C - animal study director’s licence). Experience of handling and isolating primary cells from animal & human tissues, cell line cultures (mono and co-cultures, planar migration assays, chemotaxis assays, spheroid sprouting assays, transient and stable transfections), ex ovo chorioallontoic membrane (CAM) assays, mouse & rat tumour models, antibody production in rabbits, modification of small molecule inhibitors (SMIs) and peptides for systemic targeting using liposomal encapsulation or radionuclide coupling, Western blotting, PCR & qPCR, immunofluorescence microscopy; isolation, purification & characterisation of peptide molecules (single chain variable fragments: scFvs & design ankyrin repeat proteins: DARPins) using various biochemical assays and biophysical methods including: isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis, and size exclusion chromatography multi angle light scattering (SEC-MALS).
Active STEM Ambassador (Hub Staffordshire & Shropshire), yr 22/23 and 23/24.

Psychologist with BPS Stage 1 training in Health Psychology and SDS Level 2 training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Practical experience in piloting health interventions (increasing physical activity in elderly using a community science approach) with the aim of promoting life-style behaviour changes to support health & well-being for treatment interventions in the area of chronic non-communicable diseases such as COPD, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, obesity and mental health conditions. Clinical/research experience stemming from placements in Geriatric Neuropsychology (research into structural and functional implications of sexual dimorphism using MRI data; intervention to improve cognitive function in elderly depressed patients including design of a programme for visual perception disorders), as well as Childhood Autism (implications of early interventions and Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) teaching).
Midlands Health Psychology Network (MHPN) Co-Chair, yr 24/25. 4+ years’ experience as active MHPN Committee Member and Social Media & Events Co-Lead, supporting employability events (skill-based training and careers events), as well as knowledge exchange by organising seminars and an annual research conference for BSc & MSc Students and Trainee HP Practitioner Psychologists.

Roles within The Open University:

STEM Faculty:

• S826 Module Chair, yr 23/24
• Module Team Member SK322 (production), yr 23/24
• Staff Tutor in School of Life Health and Chemical Sciences (LHCS), since yr 22/23
  yr 22/23: cluster manager on modules SDK100 J & B, S290 J, S295 J and Link Staff Tutor on S350 J
  yr 23/24: cluster manager on modules SDK100 B, S290 J, S295 J and Link Staff Tutor on S350 J
• Open, Access and Combined STEM Lead (LHCS), yr 23/24
• Module Team Member on S826 (Introduction to Mental Health Science, PG module on MSc in Mental Health Sciences qualification), yr 22/23
• Nominated Science Academic for BBC Ideas Film on Functional Neurological Disorders / Mind-Body (Dec 2022):
  -> view film: The misdiagnosis that sent me to psychiatric hospital
  -> additional information on OU connect: Should we drop the distinction between physical and mental health?
  -> part of The OU Playlist on BBC Ideas - Anthem Awards BRONZE winner in category Partnership/Community Engagement.
• Academic Conduct Officer (LHCS), yr 22/23
• Associate Lecturer/Tutor on SK298 (Brain, mind and mental health) – currently on leave/secondment

FASS Faculty:

• Assistant Staff Tutor - Region 4 (academic year 21/22)
• Associate Lecturer/Tutor on D110 (Exploring psychological worlds: thinking, feeling, doing), yr 23/24
• Associate Lecturer/Tutor on DE100 (Investigating Psychology 1), yr 21/22 and 22/23
• AL Consultant/Plagiarism Checker: DE100 (Investigating Psychology 1), yr 21/22 and 22/23 / D110 (Exploring psychological worlds: thinking, feeling, doing), yr 23/24
• D110 J Cluster Coordinator, yr 23/24
• AL Mentor on D110, yr 23/24
• Script Marker on DE100 (Investigating Psychology 1), yr 21/22 and 22/23
• Monitor on DE100 (Investigating Psychology 1), yr 21/22

List of publications:
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9023-1456